Dharamsala
is situated in the Northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
It lies on a spur of the Dhauladhar range in the Pir Panjal
region of the Outer Himalayas; and commands majestic views
of the mighty Dhauladhar ranges above, and the Kangra Valley
below. Dhauladhar means "white ridge" and this breathtaking,
snow-capped range rises out of the Kangra Valley to a height
of 5,200 meters (17,000 feet).The Kangra Valley is a wide,
fertile plain, crisscrossed by low hills. The scenery touched
the heart of a British official who wrote: "No scenery,
in my opinion, presents such sublime and delightful contrasts.
Below lies the plain, a picture of rural loveliness and repose...

Dharamshala has recently a spectacular International Cricket
stadium build and is proud for hosting various matches including
2 IPL matches.

People
from all over the world flock to Mcleodganj to receive blessings
and teachings from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Western and
Indian tourists and scholars come here to see the rebirth
of an ancient and fascinating civilization. The high altitude
and cool weather contribute physically to the re-creation
of the original Tibetan environment. Dharamsala pulsates with
the sights and sounds of old Tibet. Though certainly more
modern, life is basically Tibetan in character. Shops strung
out along the narrow streets of Mcleodganj sell traditional
Tibetan arts and handicrafts and the aroma of Tibetan dishes
lingers in the air.

Attractions at Dharamsala / Mcleodganj

Tsuglagkhang
Temple :
The Tsuglagkhang Temple is the most renowned Buddhist monument
in McLeodganj. There are three magnificent images of Buddha,
including a gilded statue of Shakyamuni, statues of Valokitesvara
and Padamasambhava.

The Namgyal Monastery was founded by the Third Dalai Lama,
and serves the Dalai Lamas exclusively. A unique feature of
this monastery is its diversity of practice. Namgyal monks
perform prayers and rituals of all the major schools of Tibetan
Buddhism.

Norbulingka
Institute:
Just 4-kms from Dharamsala, Norbulinka was established to
preserve and teach the ancient Tibetan arts. The shady paths,
wooden bridges, small streams tiny water falls make this place
look like heaven. Here one can watch the wooden carvings and
the tangka paintings, golsithing and embroidery being done.
The nunnery close to the institute is a place where women
are taught the advanced levels of Buddhist philosophy.

Gyuto
Monastery, SidhbariSidhbari is where is located the Karmapa (Ogyen Trinley
Dorje)'s temporary residence, at Gyuto Monastery.Sidhbari
is about six kilometers from Dharamsala. Karmapa means "the
one who carries out buddha-activity" or "the embodiment
of all the activities of the buddhas." In the Tibetan
tradition, great enlightened teachers are said to be able
to consciously arrange to be reborn as a teacher who can carry
on the teachings of a predecessor in a prior life.

St.
John's Church:
One of the most poignant memories of the British Raj is the
church of St. John, situated in the wilderness. This charmingly
dressed stone church is located just 8-kms from Dharamsala
on the way to McLeodganj. Under the shade of Deodar branches,
a memorial has been made over the body of the British Viceroy,
Lord Elgin who died at Dharamsala in 1863.

Triund:
Triund is a popular picnic spot at a height of 2827 m. The
area is on the foothills of Dhauladhar range and is 17kms
from Dharamsala. The snow line starts at Illaqua, which is
five kms from Triund. The breathtaking view of the mountains
and the valleys makes Triund an ideal picnic spot and trekking
destination.

Bhagsu
Temple and Water fall
About two kilometers from McLeod is a holy pilgrim site for
Hindus. Bhagsu, as it is better known has an ancient Shiv
temple. The main attraction for the tourist and the crowd
puller here is not the temple but the public swimming pool.
It is a treat for tourist making it to Dharamsala during the
hot months. But if you are not a great fan of crowded places
then stear clear of this swimming pool as it is always crowded.
Of course except during the cold winters when the water is
freezing.

Masrur
Rock cut Temple:
Fifteen richly carved monolithic rock temples sculpted in
the splendid style of the Kailash temple at Ellora and dating
back to the 8th century are to be found at Masrur, just 15
km south of kangra. Images of Ram Sita and Lakhsman can be
found in the sanctum of the main temple.

Chinmaya
Mission (Tapovan)Nestled in the spectacular Dhauladhar ranges of the
Himalayas is the Chinmaya Tapovan Ashram. It is, one of the
main retreats of the Chinmaya Mission. It is important as
a center of the Sandeepany Vedanta course, meditation camps,vedic
teachings and the Chinmaya Rural Primary Health and Training
Center. This ashram is special as this is also Swami Chinmayananda's
last resting-place, who attained 'Mahasamadhi' in August 1993
. Today this Himalayan Ashram in Dharamsala is famous for
the Vedic Teachings of this great saint !

BirBillingBir, surrounded by tea gardens and an amphitheater
of low hills, is an idle landing ground for hang/para gliders.
Bir has Buddhist Monasteries that are worth visiting. Fine
Tibetan handicrafts are also produced here. Billing up in
the hills, 14 km from Bir. Billing at Bir is known as the
host for International Pre World cup Paragliding tournament
held every year in the month of Sep - Oct.

Andretta
(Shoba Singh Art Gallery)Just 13 km from Palampur is the charming village
of Andretta where once lived, a few years ago Mrs. Norah Richards,
pioneer of rural theatre in India, lover of mountains and
ardent disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Her tall slender figure
enveloped in voluminous black silk skirt and topped by a crown
of snowy white hair, striding along the walks, is still remembered
endearingly by the local dwellers that include Sardar Shobha
Singh. A renowned artist, he gained prominence for his paintings
of the immortal ill fated Punjabi lovers, Sohni Mahiwal, Omar
Khayyam and Heer Ranjha

Naddi
& Dal lake
Just 2 kms from Mcleodganj is the sacred Dal lake known for
its religious water. The lake is regarded is the lake of Lord
Shiva. One kns ahead is the famous location called Naddi,
where you can see the Mount Dhauladhar very near and the sunset
is worth seeing in the the evening. Naddi is a liked many
for it's natural look and cool winds that pass by from the
mountains.

The
Kangra Fort
The Kangra Fort is located 20 kilometers from the town of
Dharamsala on the outskirts of the town of Kangra, India.
the fort is thought to date back to 1009 AD. The Kangra Fort
was built by the Royal family of Kangra (The Katoch Dynasty),
which traces its origins to the ancient Trigarta Kingdom,
mentioned in the Mahabharata. It is the largest fort in the
Himalayas and probably the oldest dated fort in India.

Kangra Art Museum:
This treasure trove of the Kangra valley's arts, crafts, and
rich past, displays artifacts that date back to the 5th century.
The museum also includes a gallery of Kangra's famous miniature
paintings and a representative collection of sculptures, pottery,
and anthropological items.

Gopalpur Zoo:
Gopalpur where the Forests Department has set up a zoo called
Dhauladhar Nature Park.

Kareri:
Set amidst a sylvan surrounding is a rest house, located in
the cool depths of the pine grove. Surrounded by green open
meadows and forests of tall oak & pine at a height of
3250m is situated the picturesque Kareri Lake, which is just
13-km from the rest house and 22- kms from Dharamsala.